Wish List: The Watches Dave Wants To Buy Next In 2025

February 14, 2022

Every year, I tell myself Ill resist the urge to make another list. And yet, here we are again. A fresh calendar year always seems to bring with it a fresh batch of watch cravings - some new, some old, and some Ive come close to buying before but never quite pulled the trigger on. If youve followed my past wish lists, youll recognize a familiar face or two, but I promise this isnt just a copy-and-paste job. My collecting tastes have shifted slightly over the past 12 months, and 2025 is shaping up to be the year I tighten my focus.This time around, its less about hype and more about substance. The watches on this list all speak to me in very specific ways. Theyre smart, characterful, and in most cases, a bit different from the norm. Whether I end up owning any of them is another question entirely, but each one has made enough of an impression to earn a spot here. Im not under any illusion that Ill add all five pieces - or even one of them - to my collection this year, but a man can dream.Ressence Type 9Ive always admired Ressence from afar, but the Type 9 finally gave me a reason to consider ownership. Its the most approachable and wearable of the brands designs, but it doesnt lose any of the magic. The way the dial elements orbit and rotate is classic Ressence, which still mesmerises me. I love how the Type 9 simplifies that experience without diluting the concept.The watch has a 39mm diameter and an 11mm profile, and thanks partly to its lightweight Grade 5 titanium case, it weighs just 39 grams, including the strap. It s powered by the patented automatic ROCS 9 module built on an ETA 2892 base, offering a 36-hour power reserve. The current retail price sits at CHF 12,500 (excluding taxes), which feels reasonable given the uniqueness of the design and the complexity of the mechanics involved. I also think the dial colors hit the sweet spot this time. While the Aqua is possibly too bold for me, its a very nice color. I prefer the monochromatic tones of the warm Grey dial for my wrist, though.WRK Timepieces ACF-02This ones probably no surprise if you caught my write-up earlier this year. I said then that the ACF-02 refines a winning formula, and I still stand by that. WRK has taken everything that worked with the ACF-01 and sharpened it, solidifying its design DNA. OK, so we lose the fanciful tourbillon, but instead, we have a pure, time-only watch that exudes confidence. The case is crafted from Grade 5 titanium, coming in with a 38mm diameter, 41mm length, and 8.5mm thickness. Likewise, the movement bridges and mainplate are titanium, keeping this watch feeling as light as a feather on the wrist.Inside is the AMB-01/1 movement, an ultra-thin micro-rotor caliber with double barrels, co-developed with Telos. It offers a power reserve of approximately 72 hours, and is stunning from both the front and back sides. The ACF-02 costs CHF 18,924 (excluding taxes), making it significantly more accessible than its predecessor. It s worth noting I ve not yet seen the ACF-02 in real life, but this seems to be an exception to my usual see it first rule. I keep circling back to it, thinking, Yes, this would get a lot of wrist time. Itd be a significant financial investment on my side, but I have had literal dreams about this watch. Yes, I am that sad, but maybe its a sign that I need it in my collection?Fam Al Hut M?bius Mk1This is a new addition to my list, but it crept in quietly and stuck. The M?bius Mk1 from Fam Al Hut is nothing short of incredible and has shone a light on the capabilities of Chinese watchmaking. The young brand is the brainchild of two crazy Chinese guys, Dai and Lukas, with a deep-rooted passion for watches. The M?bius Mk1 is the result of their creative horological vision. Its lugless integration is excellent, and the small pill-shaped case almost resembles a Xiaomi smartwatch. It s probably the smallest biaxial tourbillon coupled with retrograde jump hours and retrograde minutes. The case measures approximately 42.2mm in length, 24.3mm in width, and 12.9mm in thickness (but 17mm at the tourbillon) and is crafted from the buyer s choice of stainless steel or amorphous zirconium.This is an early prototype watch. The final version will have a gray rubber strap and slightly different manual finishing to improve contrast and legibility.Inside is the in-house manual-winding M-01t caliber, featuring a power reserve of 50 hours. The retail price is around US$32,000, which feels justified considering the complexity and execution. The level of hand-finishing on display here will have some of the high-end Swiss indies trembling in their boots and, given the price, rightly so. I admire when a brand builds a concept around more than just styling. Fam Al Hut is still very young, with the M?bius Mk1 being the brands debut launch, but it already has a distinct voice. The M?bius doesnt feel like its trying to be something else. Its uniquely confident, and Im drawn to that. I m already excited to see what else the brand has planned for the future. How do you top a debut like this?Zenith Chronomaster Revival Poker ChipYes, I m including this one again. Its been on my wish list before, and somehow its still here. Honestly, I dont have a good excuse at this point. I even hovered over the checkout button a few times before it sold out. But something always gets in the way. Ive never had the chance to try it on in person, so maybe thats it… It took me trying on the Hermes H08 before I took the plunge on that watch. Could the same logic apply here?Chronomaster Revival Poker Chip SJX EditionThe Poker Chip is based on the 1969 G383 case, so it measures 38mm in diameter, but it s crafted from microblasted titanium. The dial is a luminous, layered affair that looks like a real casino chip with a bit of added hazardous warning sign added for good measure. Powered by Zenith s El Primero 400 automatic chronograph caliber, it operates at 36,000 vibrations per hour and offers a power reserve of 50 hours. This was a limited edition of 200 pieces originally priced at CHF 9,900. If 2025 is the year I finally stop making excuses, this might be the one I circle back to and seal the deal, especially as it s now available well below retail on Chrono24.ArtyA Luminity Wavy Micro-RotorThis final addition to my wish list took me by surprise. Ive had ArtyA on my radar for a while, but nothing ever truly spoke to me until recently. The new Luminity Wavy Micro-Rotor in full sapphire feels like a winner, though. The 40mm case is sculptural and fluid, and paired with a completely transparent sapphire dial, it offers a full panoramic view of the movement inside. Its complex and dramatic but avoids being messy. Everything feels deliberate and clean, which is not something I ever expected to say about an ArtyA watch.Inside is the AMR-02, the brands first proprietary micro-rotor caliber made in conjunction with Tel?s Watch SA. Its thin, delivers an 82-hour power reserve via twin barrels, and uses a tungsten rotor to keep winding nice and efficient. My choice is the plain transparent dial. The colored/tinted sapphire dials are cool, but I like to keep things simple. Priced at CHF 37,900 (before tax), this watch isn t cheap. However, it makes a strong case for itself through both execution and originality. If Im ever going to go fully transparent, this is the way I want to do it.Wish list done; see you next year, folks!Looking over this list, I realize I m drawn to watches that do things a bit differently and unabashedly exude character. Each of these watches is quite distinct. Some are experimental, some are under the radar, and one is a personal white whale that Ive yet to reel in. But thats what makes the hunt fun. My tastes have certainly shifted toward watches with personality and a point of view. The surprising ones stay with me and refuse to leave my mind, no matter how many others come and go.And with that, you have my wish list for 2025. Whether any of these watches will make it into my collection remains to be seen, but for now, theyve all equally earned their place in the fantasy rotation. Let me know whats on your watch wish list in the comments!